U.S. patent application number 09/834356 was filed with the patent office on 2001-08-16 for identification system.
Invention is credited to Ross, William Leslie.
Application Number | 20010013546 09/834356 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26308445 |
Filed Date | 2001-08-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010013546 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ross, William Leslie |
August 16, 2001 |
Identification system
Abstract
A method for remote verification in which a first party at a
first telephone confirms their identity to a second person at a
second telephone. The fingerprint of the first person is read and
compared to a stored fingerprint pattern. If the stored and sensor
fingerprint patterns match, the first telephone transmits a signal
to the second telephone which controls a display on the second
telephone to display an image of the first person.
Inventors: |
Ross, William Leslie;
(London, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LAW OFFICES OF DICK AND HARRIS
Suite 3800
181 West Madison Street
Chicago
IL
60602
US
|
Family ID: |
26308445 |
Appl. No.: |
09/834356 |
Filed: |
April 13, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09834356 |
Apr 13, 2001 |
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09101148 |
Oct 28, 1998 |
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09101148 |
Oct 28, 1998 |
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PCT/GB97/00064 |
Jan 9, 1997 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
235/382 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07C 9/26 20200101; G06Q
20/341 20130101; G07F 7/1008 20130101; G07C 9/25 20200101; G06Q
20/40145 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
235/382 |
International
Class: |
G06K 005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 9, 1996 |
GB |
9600359.5 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An identification method including the steps of generating a
signal corresponding to a fingerprint pattern, comparing the
generated signal to a stored fingerprint signal, generating a
coincidence signal when the stored and generated fingerprint
signals match, and using the coincidence signal to address a memory
storing a feature signal representing a feature characteristic of a
pre-determined person or group of persons, transmitting the feature
signal to a location remote from that where the fingerprint pattern
is sensed, and generating an output at the remote location of the
feature represented by the stored feature signal.
2. A method according to claim 1 including the steps of providing a
portable data processing device including a fingerprint sensor for
generating a signal corresponding to a sensed fingerprint pattern,
providing a first communications terminal having connection means
for connection to the data processing device to allow signals to
pass from the data processing device to the first terminal, and
providing a second communications terminal couplable to the first
terminal to allow signals to pass between the two communications
terminals, the second communications terminal having an output for
outputting the feature represented by a feature signal supplied to
the second communications terminal.
3. A method according to claim 2 where the portable data processing
device is a card such as a PCMCIA, PC or smart card having a data
processing capacity and on-card memory.
4. A method according to claim 2 or wherein the data processing
device includes a first memory containing the stored fingerprint
pattern, a second memory containing the stored feature signal as
well as data processing means for comparing the generated and
stores signals, generating the coincidence signal, and supplying
the first communications terminal with the feature signal.
5. A method according to claim 2 wherein the first and second
communications terminals are telephones.
6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the feature represented by
the stored feature signal is audible or visible.
7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the feature is an image of
at least a portion of the predetermined person whose fingerprint
pattern is stored in the first memory means.
8. An identification or verification system including fingerprint
sensing means for sensing a fingerprint pattern, data processing
means for producing a signal representing a sensed fingerprint
pattern, a first memory for storing a signal representing a
selected fingerprint pattern of a pre-determined person, signal
comparison means for comparing a signal generated by the data
processing means from a sensed fingerprint pattern with the stored
fingerprint pattern and generating a coincidence signal when the
two match, second memory means for storing a feature signal
representing a feature characteristic of the pre-determined person
or a group of persons including the pre-determined person,
addressing means for retrieving the characteristic signal from the
second memory when a coincidence signal is generated by the
comparison means, and display means connected to and remote from
the fingerprint sensing means for converting the feature signal
into an output of the stored characteristic feature.
9. A system according to claim 8 including a portable data
processing device including a fingerprint sensor for generating a
signal corresponding to a sensed fingerprint pattern, a first
communications terminal having connection means for connection to
the data processing device to allow signals to pass from the data
processing device to the first terminal, and a second
communications terminal couplable to the first terminal to allow
signals to pass between the two communication terminals, the second
communications terminal having an output for outputting the feature
represented by a feature signal supplied to the second
communications terminal.
10. A system according to claim 9 where the portable data
processing device is a card such as a PCMCIA, PC or smart card,
having a data processing capacity and on-card memory.
11. A system according to claim 9 wherein the data processing
devices includes a first memory containing the stored fingerprint
pattern, a second memory containing the stored feature signal as
well as data processing means for comparing the generated and
stores signals, generating the coincidence signal, and supplying
the first communications terminal with the feature signal.
12. A system according to claim 9 wherein the first and second
communications terminals are telephones.
13. A system according to claim 8 wherein the feature represented
by the stored feature signal is audible or visible.
14. A system according to claim 13 wherein the feature is an
image.
15. A system according to claim 14, wherein the second memory means
stores an image of at least a portion of the pre-determined person
whose fingerprint pattern is stored in the first memory means.
16. An identification device according to claim 15 wherein the
second memory stores the image signal in digital form.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to an identification system for
verifying the identify of a person.
[0002] It is often necessary to confirm that someone instructing a
transaction is who they claim to be or that they are authorised to
carry out a particular transaction. Identification cards carrying a
photograph of authorised personnel are well known as are cards, eg
bank cards, having a magnetic strip containing details of a four
digit code which can be compared to a code inputted by the carrier
of a card into a card receiving machine.
[0003] Identification cards of the first type having a photograph
on their surface which is always visible may be tampered with. For
example, the photograph may be removed and replaced with another.
Furthermore, such cards cannot be used for a remote identification
as they cannot be used to generate an identification signal which
may be transmitted to a location remote from the card carrier and
the card. This means that the card is not suitable for
identification of someone authorising the transaction over, for
example, the telephone.
[0004] The magnetic strip type of identification card results in a
`yes` or a `no` signal. The strip merely stores a code
corresponding to the authorised card user's input code and does not
produce an identification signal which can be transmitted to a
remote display to generate a display characteristic of the carrier
of the card and readily identifiable therewith.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The invention is defined in claims 1 or 8 to which reference
should now be made.
[0006] Embodiments of the invention of claims 1 and 8 allow one to
generate a signal which can be transmitted to a remote display to
produce a display readily identifiable with a particular user by
someone monitoring the display.
[0007] Preferably, the second memory of claim 8 stores a bit map
corresponding to an image of, the face of the carrier of the card
which is transmitted to a remote display to generate an image of
the carrier of the card. This results in an identification signal
which is difficult to replicate by a forger and yet which can be
easily generated and transmitted by the user of the card.
[0008] Preferred features of the invention are described in the
claims appendant on claims 1 and 8 to which reference should now be
made.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way
of example, with reference to the accompanying figures in
which:
[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates (not to scale) a remote identification
system;
[0011] FIG. 2 illustrates (not to scale) an alternative embodiment
of the system;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the flow of information
corresponding to the system in FIGS. 1 or 2;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of the construction of a
terminal for use in the remote identification system of FIGS. 1 to
3;
[0014] FIG. 5 illustrates apparatus for storing signals
representative of a fingerprint pattern and an image or a data
processing card; and
[0015] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the flow of information
corresponding to the system embodied by the apparatus of FIGS. 1 or
2 and 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates a remote identification system for
verifying the identity of a card carrier at a location remote from
an operator processing a transaction. The embodiment is
particularly suitable, eg, for verifying the identify of the person
giving telephone instructions for is banking, stock broking, or
dealing transactions.
[0017] A card 1, for example a PCMCIA (i.e. card approved by
Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) card, has
an in-built fingerprint sensor 2 and on-card memory 3 and data
processing means 4. The card, data processing and fingerprint
sensor construction may be as described in International Patent
Application No. WO94/25938, European Patent Application
No.EP0459808 or UK Patent Application No. GB2243235.
[0018] A card reader having a card receiving slot 6 is incorporated
in a first telephone 7, for use for example, by a first person for
instructing a second person to carry out a transaction. A second
telephone 8 in communication with the first telephone 7 for use for
example by a second person being instructed to carry out the
transaction incorporates a display system 9 and/or is connected to
an external display system 9a.
[0019] When the card carrier (caller No.1) using the first
telephone 7 to instruct a transaction wishes to identify himself,
he inserts the card 1 in the slot 6 and presses down on the
fingerprint sensor 2 with the tip of one of his fingers. As
described in more detail below, the sensed fingerprint pattern is
compared with a stored fingerprint pattern corresponding to the
authorised carrier of the card. This stored pattern is held in an
on-card memory 3.
[0020] The sensing and comparison of fingerprint patterns may be as
described in EP0459808, GB2243235 and WO94/25938.
[0021] If the sensed and stored fingerprint patterns correspond, a
signal representing an image of the face of the authorised card
carrier is transmitted down the telephone line 16 connecting the
two telephones to the second telephone 8. The identification
display system 9 or 9a includes a screen or visual display unit 10
or 10a and data processing means 11. The data processing means 11
receives the transmitted image signal and causes the image of the
authorised card carrier represented by the image signal to be
displayed on the screen 10 (Image No.1).
[0022] Alternative embodiments of the invention may alternatively
include the transmission and output respectively of either any
image signal and image characteristic of the first person or a
group to which the first person belongs, or of an audio signal and
noise characteristic of the first person or a group to which the
first person belongs.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 2, the on-card memory means 3 includes a
first memory 12 for storing a signal representing the finger print
pattern of the authorised carrier of the card, and a second memory
13 storing in digital form, i.e. as a bit map, an image of the face
of the authorised carrier of the card. The on-card data processing
means 4 includes a comparison means 14 for comparing the
fingerprint pattern signal generated by the fingerprint sensor 2
and its associated data processing circuitry, with the stored
signal in the first memory 12. A comparison means 14 generates a
coincidence signal when the stored and generated signals match.
[0024] The coincidence signal is then used to address the second
memory 13 and an image signal is transmitted by the image signal
generating means 15 via a telephone connection 16 (either a radio
or fixed line) to the second telephone 8. The second telephone set
8 is connected to data processing circuitry 11 which converts the
image signal supplied by the on-card memory and associated data
processing circuitry to the first telephone and thence to the
second telephone 7, from the bit map stored in the second memory 13
into a visual display of the image of the, say, face of the
authorised carrier of the card for display on a screen 10 (see FIG.
6).
[0025] As shown in FIG. 1, the two telephones 7 and 8 may be of
similar construction so that each participant in a telephone
conversation can verify the identity of the other participant.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 4, the telephone 7, 8 includes a
microprocessor board 25 which communicates via a telephone line
with another telephone 8, 7.
[0027] This microprocessor 25 includes a first interface element 21
through which an image signal generated by a card 1 is supplied to
the microprocessor 25 and thence to a remote telephone.
[0028] The microprocessor 25 also includes a second interface
element 22 through which an image signal received by the telephone
from a remote telephone is supplied to a display driver 26. The
display driver 26 controls a liquid crystal display 10 to display
the image represented by the image signal received from the remote
telephone in communication with the microprocessor 25.
[0029] The remote identification or verification system described
in which a portable data processing device such as a PCMCIA or PC
(Personal computer) card including a built-in fingerprint sensor,
data processing capacity and memory generates a signal
representative of a human recognisable characteristic feature of a
person or group of persons in response to the sensing of a
pre-determined fingerprint pattern allows remote verification using
standard communications apparatus such as telephones.
[0030] The PCMCIA, PC or similar card (i.e. a card having a large
memory, for example greater than 5 megabytes, and data processing
capacity) can sense a fingerprint and carry out all the data
processing necessary to produce a signal representative if, say, an
image in a form suitable for transmission by a standard telephone
or modem.
[0031] Data processing cards having an in-built sensor (for
example, of the type described in WO94/25938) are relatively
inexpensive to produce. This combined with the small amount of
modification required to allow a first telephone to receive the
signal produced by the card and a second telephone to produce an
output from this signal means that the described remote
verification system is inexpensive. This system therefore allows
for secure remote verification without the need for expensive
dedicated equipment. This is particularly true if the data
processing card also includes, for example, personal information
such as driving licence, passport, social security or banking
details and is in common circulation. In this scenario, the data
processing card already in operation as an identity card could be
inexpensively programmed to include the information and software
necessary to implement the verification system described above.
[0032] The described fingerprint pattern comparison between stored
and sensed fingerprint pattern may be supplemented by an additional
biometric check. A biometric is used herein to describe a
substantially stable characteristic of a person which can be
automatically measured and characterised for comparison. Suitable
biometrics for supplementing a fingerprint pattern include palm
prints, retinal prints, as well as facial, behavioural or
linguistic characteristics. Behavioural characteristics may include
the manner in which a person writes his signature and linguistic
characteristics may include voice patterns.
[0033] A supplementary biometric may be picked up by an auxiliary
data capture device (or if linguistic, the telephone) and compared
with data stored on the data processing card. The use of a second
supplementary biometric or any other supplementary verification
(e.g. password) increases the security of the system.
[0034] Apparatus for capturing a fingerprint pattern and image for
storing on a card 1 for use in the method and apparatus described
above will now be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.
[0035] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a camera 31 is used to capture
and record an image such as the face 32 of the person for whom the
card 1 is being set up. The image recorded by the camera 1 is
digitised (i.e. converted into a bit map signal). The operation of
digitising of an optical image is well known and a number of known
techniques and appropriate systems are suitable as is apparent to
the man of ordinary skill.
[0036] A card 1 having an in-built sensor 2 is inserted into a slot
33 of, for example, a personal computer 35. The slot includes
connectors allowing data to flow between the on-card memory and
data processing elements and the personal computer 35. The personal
computer is also connected to the camera 31 allowing the digitised
image signal produced by the camera 31 to be supplied to the
personal computer 35. In an alternative embodiment the camera
produces an analogue signal which is subsequently digitised by the
personal computer 35.
[0037] The personal computer 35 includes a set-up program which
takes the image signal supplied by the camera and, causes this to
be stored in a protected memory area (the second memory 13) of the
on-card memory for subsequent access and processing as described in
the identification or verification method described above.
[0038] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the personal computer 35, card 1
and fingerprint sensor 2 are used to set up the card 1 such that
the fingerprint pattern of the person to whom the card is issued is
stored in a first memory 12 of a fuse protected memory area of the
card. The process of setting up the card is described in WO94/25938
and essentially involves the capture and storing of the first
fingerprint pattern sensed by a newly issued card.
[0039] In an alternative embodiment of the system, the card 1 is
programmed to contain the software necessary for the first sensed
fingerprint pattern after issuing of the card to be stored on the
card. In this alternative embodiment, a personal computer 35 or
data processing external to the card are not required to set up the
card with a stored fingerprint pattern. Such a card would be set up
as is presently done with newly issued credit cards; on receipt of
a card having no stored fingerprint pattern the user presses his or
her fingerprint against the sensor 2 on the card. The on-card data
processing then stores a signal representative of this pattern in a
pre-treated memory area of the card.
[0040] As can be seen from the above description of the set-up
operation for programming a card 1, and the verification method
using a card programmed with the fingerprint pattern and image of
the authorised user of the card, embodiments of the present
invention result in a simple inexpensive system for both producing
secure identification or verification cards, and reading (i.e.
using) such cards.
[0041] A preferred embodiment of the invention would include a data
processing element in the telephone 7, 8, which records any attempt
(whether successful or unsuccessful) to authorise a transaction, as
well as details of the person requesting the transaction. Such
details may be stored in the on-card memory and transmitted through
the telephone connection subsequent, simultaneously or prior to the
image signal. The recorded details may include the image stored on
the card. This has clear benefits in tracking, recording or
identifying those seeking to instruct or make unauthorised
transactions.
[0042] Although no described in detail, it can be appreciated by
those with ordinary skill in the art that the method and system of
the present invention can be readily implemented with pre-existing
or known hardware and software. In the preferred embodiments
described in the data processing card and personal computer include
data processing elements and associated memory elements for storing
operating programs and application programs for carrying out the
method steps described. Furthermore, one or more of the method
steps (e.g. the set-up and data capture operations) can be
implemented in either gate array logic elements or software.
[0043] It will be appreciated that although described embodiments
of the invention use a small portable data processing device such
as a PCMCIA card, the system can be implemented using any form of
portable data processing device such as a lap-top, palm to palm or
desk top computer or indeed any (i.e. non-portable) data processing
device connected or couple to a fingerprint sensor and having
sufficient memory and data processing capacity to carry out the
necessary operations.
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